July 11, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 116 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session
ELECTION SECURITY; Congressional Record Vol. 165, No. 116
(Senate - July 11, 2019)
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[Pages S4779-S4780] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] ELECTION SECURITY Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday the entire Senate had the opportunity to meet in classified session for a briefing on election security. We heard from the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI Director, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and other key administration officials about our recent progress and ongoing work to protect our democratic process from interference. The takeaway was perfectly clear. After 2016, this new administration kicked into high gear. Alongside our efforts in Congress, all levels of government worked proactively to make sure that 2018 was not a repeat of 2016. Far from letting up, the executive branch is continuing to work hard in advance of next year's Presidential election. We know our adversaries will not be letting up, so we aren't letting up either. I want to underscore my appreciation for the tremendous work that so many officials across our government have been doing to protect our democracy and impose costs on adversaries who dare to interfere. Threats remain, but yesterday's briefing was an instructive counterpoint to the doom and gloom hyperbole we often see in the media. Good news doesn't sell newspapers. Although I doubt it would get much coverage, I am proud of the work of our government and what they have done to shore up our defenses of American democracy and deter foreign influence and interference. I believe our colleagues feel the same way. At one point during yesterday's briefing, applause broke out in the room for the work of one of our agencies--bipartisan applause in the briefing yesterday about what was done in 2018, after which it was largely incident free. Many of the details of yesterday's briefing were classified and should remain so, but much of what was discussed were the specific details and the full impact of steps that are already public knowledge. Here in Congress, we have taken legislative action to enhance interagency coordination on cybersecurity, expedite security clearances for election officials, and allocate hundreds of millions of dollars in direct aid to State election officials--direct aid to State election officials. With the new resources that we provided, the Department of Homeland Security dramatically strengthened its information sharing and security partnerships with the State and local authorities that operate elections in the United States. Participation came from all 50 States and 1,400 localities, and the direct aid to States helped the authorities who were on the frontlines conducting elections update their systems, strengthen their defenses, and maintain vigilance. These and other actions have been part of a coordinated, government- wide, Federal, State, and local campaign to shore up our defenses. I would anticipate that every Member who attended the classified briefing likely [[Page S4780]] came away feeling confident that big steps forward have taken place in the last 2\1/2\ years. Thanks in large part to these measures, the 2018 elections went more smoothly than 2016, and as we look to 2020, it is encouraging to learn how seriously the administration is taking the threat and proactively working to counter it because we know the threat is not going anywhere. Foreign adversaries are going to keep at it, so I am glad the administration is so focused on staying strong and remaining vigilant. Of course, as I said yesterday, the roots of the issue run deeper than our elections themselves. A foreign adversary like Russia didn't just wake up one day in 2016 and decide to interfere in the American democracy. The meddling was an outgrowth of a long pattern of weakness and naivete that permeated all 8 years of the Obama administration. Punching back against this misbehavior, and deterring future episodes like it, has also meant taking broad steps to strengthen America's posture abroad and to get more realistic about our relationship with the Russians. Obviously, nearly 30 Russians and Russian corporations have been indicted by the Special Counsel for election meddling. More broadly, we have a new national security strategy--an improved roadmap for our global presence that takes seriously the need to check great power competitors like Russia and China. We are recommitting to the alliances that preserve American values around the world, reforming NATO to meet 21st century threats, and equipping our allies and partners who are on the frontlines of Russia's geopolitical prospecting. Congress and the administration have worked together to restore our Armed Forces and unwind harmful funding restrictions that cut readiness and limited our commanders. So not just our efforts on election security but, really, our entire foreign policy have made strides under the leadership of this administration. To conclude, yesterday's briefing made it clear that our work has led to huge progress--huge progress--but the work certainly isn't over. Leaders across government are continuing to explore and repair potential vulnerabilities and increase cooperation ahead of the 2020 Presidential election. Congress will certainly continue to monitor this closely while resisting any efforts to use the failures of the past to justify sweeping federalizations of election law, as some on the other side have consistently sought to do. Let me say that again. Congress will certainly continue to monitor this closely while resisting any efforts to use the failures of the past to justify sweeping federalizations of election law, as some on the other side have consistently sought to do. Make no mistake, many of the proposals labeled by Democrats to be ``election security'' are measures, in fact, for election reform that are part of the wish list of the left called the Democrat politician protection act. What they do is ignore the great work this administration has done and sweep under the rug the necessary measures this Chamber has passed. But speaking broadly, I think all Americans should remember this: What Russia really set out to do was to sow division, spark doubt, and trigger a crisis of confidence in our country that would extend far beyond the actual actions that they undertook. So as I have said before, as we continue taking action and shoring up our defenses, it is also vital that we not fall into precisely-- precisely--the trap that Putin and company have laid. It is vital that Americans not take the bait on fear and division and ultimately do Russia's work for them. Our country is strong. American democracy is strong. Our elections are already safer and more secure, and the important work continues. Our adversaries will not let up, so we are not letting up either. ____________________